New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-29
THE YORK At THE M4YASQUANS MOUTH
THE ENGINEERS HAVE MADE WHAT CHANNEL
THERE WAS IMPAssABLE. AND now WANT TO

THE ENGINEERS HAVE MADE WHAT CHANNEL
THERE WAS IMPAssABLE, AND NOW WANT TO
ABANDON IT.
|. SEA GIRT ~ j., Aug. 26.-It was the privilege OF
several TRIBUNE readers to reau an article upon
New-Jersey rivers in Wednesday mornings TRIBUNE
and n curious correspondent tramped over the sand
for couple miles to the scene OF one OF National
works, concerning which Lieutenant Derby. OF the
engineers, has this to say
No work has beer done on the Manasquan River
during the year. II il ia deemed advisable to protect
exis ting interests approx ration OF $1,000 will be
required Mt but la view OF the absence OF com
merce aud OF a population sufficient to support q
trade IL Ia not believed that Congress intends to COM
plete h. work. which would require the expenditure
oil $33,00O during the next fiscal GEAR"
Ihe Manasluau Rivers broad bosom stretched 1t
self a dozen miles TO the southwest, when the cor
respondent reached thu mouth OF the river which has
been the OF the Government work That 1t Is q
pretty river, the presence OF halt dozen artists on
It's banks sufficiently proves; that 1t Is real river,
tho product OF 100000 yearly IN hsh-food sho WIS ;
that Il gable everywhere excepting at the place
the Government spent $50 900 10 make it navtgabe
/. plain to the eye that sees the small sioops SAILING
TO aud fro. .
have su.hced to raise pointed question IS to the
value OF some OF tho Government work being done
along the coast as instanced by this case OF the
Manasquan Tho river, as hintei above, /. no mere
estuary, but genuine river oil considerable extent
and with heavy dow OF water IL has been sug-
ga-tsd at intervals that harbOr OF refuge tor coast
ing vessel, was necessary tho nhospltabe shores
OF New-Jerscy. The Manasquan, entering the sea
twenty five miles from Sandy Hook and twenty-five
from Bsrnegat Inlet, rnished the only available
place for such harbor. There was plenty OF water.
and all that needed was clear passage through
the hundred yards OF sand which then made tho
channel treacherou4 and shallow. Congress at
length ordered the preliminary surveys the report
OF the engineering DEF artnont was made and an mp
preparation Obtained contractor was set to
work, according TO the plans OF the engineers: The
scheme was to construct couple OF large dikes on
either eide OF the inlet. and ermit the lowing tides
"a. nj .ha nf ann aut
The work has been completed and THE TRIBUNE
corrcspon dent II yesterday The dixie ut the norh
VI the inlet Ia a substantial construction rs Tar as
can be seen but IL Is almost covered With sand, anu
in front OF are sand bars of every descrbabe FORM
The dixie at the south OF the former inlet Is now All
/ island. II resembles ancient wreck, ana rounu
about 1t swirl the tides bubbling. frothlng ant Leap
ing shoals, turning acute angles and rushing out
10 sea against tho enormous breakers. Inc river.
finding itself by the bikes. has simply cut
opening tor itself behind the southern dixie banked
III sand every side and tar cut to sea ana IN
stead of the old unimprOved" inlet, which was az
least open tor fishing boats good part vi the year.
the channel is closed against every sort OF navigation
| The purpose of making u" haIbor OF refuge mas
been 80 utter failure that the engineer has APP
arcntly forgotten that such intention existed, anu
! talks of the " absence OF commerce.! !" There Is
certanly absence OF something and the hsherme n
about Manasquan say 1t IL an absence OF common
sense in the Engineering Corps
! The river might have commerce ana q large ono
1t might DO Larbor Tor distressed coasters mght
be made to produce million instead OF huhureu
thousand q year; IL might he water outlet 10 tho
great vegetable producing county u laps but more
intelligent t. TO clear the channel at the mouth
OF the Manasquan prerequisites. Congressman
Kean is pectcd to do something tor the Manasquan
this year and it is urgently important that he
should.